Club Statement: Play-Off Ticket Allocations.

We would like to clarify to our fantastic supporters the current position regarding away ticket allocations for the upcoming Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final games against Walsall.

Following negotiations with Walsall, Barnsley Football Club has been given a total allocation of 1,450 away tickets for the Second Leg at the Banks’s Stadium on Thursday 19th May, 7:45pm kick-off.

Despite huge anticipated demand for tickets from Barnsley supporters and a number of pleas from ourselves, Walsall have decided that due to health and safety concerns, at this stage the 1,450 allocation cannot be increased. Under Football League Regulations each home club must make provision for at least 2,000 away supporters at every home match or such number as represents 10% of the Club’s certified capacity, if less than 2,000. The Banks’s Stadium has a total capacity of 11,300, therefore our away allocation equates to just under 13% of the overall capacity.

For the First Leg at Oakwell on Saturday, Walsall were given an initial allocation of 2,000 tickets in the Palmer Construction North Stand. Following further discussions with Walsall, we understand that these tickets are on track to sell out. Therefore, a request was made for further tickets and we have had to accede to that, on advice from the Safety Officer and Police, and issue an additional 2,000 tickets for away supporters, taking the total number to 4,000 tickets.

If we had not agreed to increase Walsall’s away allocation for the First Leg at Oakwell based on that advice received, we would have inevitably run the risk of away supporters buying tickets in the home areas and consequently the game being requested to be all-ticket by the Police on safety grounds.

Also, as part of an all-ticket game, it is likely that we would have had to restrict the purchasing of tickets to those with a previous booking history which would make it difficult for new or lapsed supporters to attend the game. Our pricing structure was designed to reward our superb supporters and to provide an opportunity for all those that wanted to get behind the Reds to do just that. It is a physical fact that Oakwell is larger than the Banks’s Stadium, especially in terms of the respective away supporter areas.

We appreciate that some supporters will be left frustrated by the difference in the away allocations offered by each club. However, we would like to assure supporters that we have made every effort to obtain additional away tickets for the Second Leg at Walsall and we will continue to pursue this over the coming days.

We would really appreciate your understanding on these matters. Thank you for your continued and fantastic support!